Cornwall Inward Investor Support

Cornwall's businesses are thriving across the whole economic spectrum. However, in recent years a number of sectors have achieved particularly strong growth, with rapidly developing business clusters focused around world-class centres of excellence.

Despite its rural environment, Cornwall is set to become one of the first places in the UK to benefit from next generation broadband services, providing faster, more reliable and affordable connections across the whole county. The roll out will start in 2010, and will have a significant impact on businesses and organisations in Cornwall, providing the platform for innovation, improved communications and new opportunities. Cornwall will benefit from a future-proofed level of connectivity, ensuring it can compete with major cities across the world.

Cornwall has secured its position as the green peninsula of the UK. As well as high profile ventures like the Eden Project, the world’s largest wave energy farm is due to be built in 2010 and launched of the Cornish coast.

Cornwall also boasts exceptional environmental technology skills and expertise. Home to world leading Camborne School of Mines, as well as companies in ground source heat pumps, wind technology and other leading environmental services.

Cornwall has made significant investment in its economy over the past few years. Through European Convergence funding, another £500m is being invested to build a stronger, more diverse economy by supporting businesses, creating employment and developing new skills.

This backdrop makes Cornwall the ideal investor location.

Assistance and Support For New Business Investors

Cornwall Pure Business (UK & EU) and InvestinCornwall (Overseas (non-EU) should be any inward investor’s first port of call. We are able to provide information on relocating to the county, answer investor queries and research particular areas of interest. Our aim is to ensure an investor has access to all the relevant information, is put in touch with the most useful contacts and is able to make an informed decision about moving to the county.

Typical support services that we provide include:

• Looking into eligible finance options such as business loans and grants
• IT / broadband requirements and solutions
• Advice and support on recruitment and training
• Undertaking or sourcing initial research requirements, for example, on the state of the local market or supply chains
• Facilitating introductions to key contacts within the county such as organisers of sector networks or R&D grants

Once you've made the move

We believe that understanding and meeting business needs doesn't stop at the point of relocation. Therefore, we continue to provide support to your business when you are set up in the county. This can include:

• Marketing services - launching new business to the county through local media, business magazines and local press
• Ad hoc national press activity, promoting Cornwall as a great business destination through highlighting successful businesses in the county
• Networking support - guidance through the various business networks
• Checking how the business is developing and identify areas for further work or support

Existing Business Base

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is a model rural knowledge economy for the 21st Century. Through the management of environment, visitors, sustainability, investment and infrastructure, successful competition within a global economy is being achieved.

The county has witnessed an economic renaissance over the past five years. Strong employment growth has been accompanied by major new developments such as the iconic Eden Project and the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC). There has also been a significant improvement in the external image of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly as a high quality destination with a positive and creative future. This change has been helped by low cost airlines offering services to and from Newquay, making the county much
more accessible from other parts of England.

Cornwall has a strong industrial history. It has long been famous for engineering and mining skills (e.g. the Camborne School of Mines is known and respected worldwide) and was one of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution. However, Cornwall is being rediscovered by business interests, large and small, because it offers not only a welcoming and extremely convenient business environment, but is also an ideal place for families – without the stresses of more urban areas. In addition:

• Newquay airport boasts one of the longest runway in the UK (2745m), able to support aircraft of any size
• Cornwall has a strong and well developed skills base
• Through the integrated education facilities there is the opportunity to run bespoke training courses for a wide range of skills